ISLAMABAD – Authorities in Pakistan have blocked hundreds of social mediaaccounts linked to proscribed organizations, while reporting over 850others to international platforms for further action, officials said onThursday.
The crackdown targets accounts associated with banned militant groups,including *Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)*, *Baloch Liberation Army (BLA)*,and *Baloch Liberation Front (BLF)* — all designated as terroristorganizations by the *United Nations*, the *United States*, and the *UnitedKingdom*.
According to official data, the *National Cybercrime Investigation Agency*and the *Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)* identified more than850 such accounts. Of these, *533 accounts*, with a combined following ofover *two million users*, have already been taken down. Action against theremaining accounts is ongoing.
The accounts were active across multiple platforms, including *Facebook,Instagram, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), Telegram, and WhatsApp*. PTAofficials have held meetings with representatives from these platforms,requesting user data and cooperation to speed up enforcement measures.
Social media platforms responded with varying degrees of compliance.*Facebook* and *TikTok* acted on over *90% of official requests*, while*Telegram* — despite being banned locally — provided full cooperation. Incontrast, *X* and *WhatsApp* complied with only around *30%* of therequests.
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Officials emphasized that Pakistan’s mainstream *electronic and print media*remain free from terrorist propaganda. However, extremist groups continueto exploit *social media networks* to spread fear, incite violence, andrecruit followers.
The government has vowed to continue working with global tech companies tocurb the online influence of proscribed outfits and prevent the spread ofextremist narratives in the digital space.